Red Hill
With a median age of 50 and household incomes in the 89.1st percentile nationally, Red Hill, VIC reads as a well-established, affluent rural enclave on the Mornington Peninsula. Only 1,009 residents occupy 23.59 square kilometres, giving a density of 42.8 people per square kilometre, far below typical suburban averages. The most striking signal is a 27.8% vacancy rate alongside 98.2% separate-house stock, suggesting a large share of dwellings are holiday homes or discretionary holdings rather than permanent residences. Price history shows a compound annual growth rate of 11.3% over the decade from 2013 to 2023, with the median rising from $515,000 to $1,507,500.
Population
1,009
Median Age
50.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,344/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
Red Hill's price history reveals a decade of strong appreciation. The median house price climbed from $515,000 in 2013 to a peak of $1,960,000 in 2022, then corrected to $1,507,500 in 2023, a fall of 23.1% from peak but still 192.7% above the 2013 starting point. The compound annual growth rate of 11.3% over 10 years is well above national averages for residential property. Stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.2%, with 4-plus bedroom homes making up 45.5% and 3-bedroom homes 42.7%. Outright owners account for 45.6% of households, compared to 40.3% on a mortgage, which is higher ownership-outright than most Australian suburbs and points to an established, lower-leverage buyer base. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167.
For Buyers
Red Hill's price history reveals a decade of strong appreciation. The median house price climbed from $515,000 in 2013 to a peak of $1,960,000 in 2022, then corrected to $1,507,500 in 2023, a fall of 23.1% from peak but still 192.7% above the 2013 starting point. The compound annual growth rate of 11.3% over 10 years is well above national averages for residential property. Stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.2%, with 4-plus bedroom homes making up 45.5% and 3-bedroom homes 42.7%. Outright owners account for 45.6% of households, compared to 40.3% on a mortgage, which is higher ownership-outright than most Australian suburbs and points to an established, lower-leverage buyer base. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167.
For Investors
Red Hill's 27.8% vacancy rate is the defining investor risk: it is substantially higher than national norms and reflects the concentration of holiday and discretionary-use dwellings across the 23.59 square kilometre area. Weekly rent averages $461, and with only 14.1% of dwellings occupied by renters, the permanent rental pool is thin. Rent-to-income sits at 19.7%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning tenants who are here can afford it. Development activity is minimal at 4 planning permits lodged in 12 months, all alterations and infrastructure work rather than new dwellings, so new supply is not a near-term risk. The annual population is only 1,009 residents, limiting rental demand to a small base.
Development Activity
Total DAs
5
Last 12 Months
4
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+300.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Red Hill iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Red Hill Consolidated School
Prep-6 · 489 students
Demographics
The median age of 50 is 10 years above the national median, placing Red Hill among Australia's most age-skewed communities. University qualifications reach 49.7% of residents, which is 19.6 percentage points above the national figure, indicating a highly educated population. The overseas-born share of 12.9% sits 8.7 percentage points below national, consistent with the English, Irish and Scottish ancestry that dominates: 492 English, 134 Irish and 130 Scottish-ancestry residents lead the count. Average household size is 2.7, marginally above national. Couples with children (324) outnumber couples without (251) among the 795 total families, and the volunteering rate of 27.6% is notably high.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.2%
Houses
1.8%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is almost exclusively separate houses at 98.2%, with the remaining 1.8% semi-detached and no recorded apartments. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 45.5% and 3-bedroom homes 42.7%, reflecting the large blocks and rural character. Outright owners at 45.6% exceed those on a mortgage at 40.3%, and renters at 14.1% are well below the national average. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.4% sits below the 30% stress threshold, meaning current mortgage holders are not over-extended relative to income in the 89.1st percentile nationally. The 27.8% vacancy rate stands out, pointing to significant discretionary and holiday-home use across the suburb's 23.59 square kilometres.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$461
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$962
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
27.8%
Unoccupied
127
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.6%
Couples, no children
795
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 16.5% of the workforce, followed closely by Professional/Tech at 13.9% and Education at 13.6%, then Construction at 10.4% and Hospitality at 7.5%. By occupation, Professionals (158) and Managers (120) account for the largest groups, consistent with household income in the 89.1st percentile nationally. The unemployment rate is low at 2.4% and full-time employment runs at 55.1%. Participation rate of 55.3% is moderate, with 288 residents not in the labour force, which reflects the older age profile with a median of 50 years. Weekly personal income of $962 and family income of $2,607 are above typical Australian benchmarks.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.1%
Part-time
42.5%
Participation
55.3%
Employed
452
Occupations
Top Industries
University
49.7%
Postgraduate
11.5%
Born Overseas
12.9%
Dwellings
330
Transport to Work
Red Hill's livability rests on space, income and a low-crime, low-density environment. Car dependency is high, with 87.1% of residents driving to work, while 8.1% walk or cycle, consistent with a rural setting where public transport is limited. The crime rate of 40.6 incidents per 1,000 residents is based on just 41 total recorded offences, with 33 being property and deception offences. This is a modest absolute count for a suburb with 1,009 residents and a large transient visitor population using holiday homes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families travel to neighbouring areas. Housing stress is absent: rent-to-income at 19.7% and mortgage-to-income at 21.4% are both below the 30% threshold, and only 6.2% of residents need daily assistance.
Drive
87.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
8.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
41
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
40.6
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Red Hill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Red Hill a good suburb to live in?
Red Hill suits residents who prioritise space, privacy and high incomes over urban amenity. Household income sits in the 89.1st percentile nationally, the crime count is low at 41 incidents per year across the whole suburb, and 98.2% of dwellings are separate houses on large blocks. The trade-off is car dependency at 87.1% and no recorded schools inside the boundary.
What is the median house price in Red Hill?
The most recent recorded median is $1,507,500 (2023), down 23.1% from the 2022 peak of $1,960,000. From 2013 to 2023 the median rose 192.7% from $515,000, giving a compound annual growth rate of 11.3% over 10 years. Weekly rent averages $461 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,167.
What schools are in Red Hill?
No schools are recorded within the Red Hill, VIC boundary in this dataset. The suburb's small population of 1,009 and low density of 42.8 residents per square kilometre means families travel to schools in nearby Mornington Peninsula towns. The local adult population is highly educated, with 49.7% holding university qualifications, which is 19.6 percentage points above the national rate.
Is Red Hill safe?
Red Hill recorded 41 total crimes in the latest period, giving a rate of 40.6 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences made up 33 of those 41 incidents, with only 4 crimes against the person. For context, this is a low absolute count across a 23.59 square kilometre area with a significant holiday-home population that increases the transient base.
Is Red Hill good for property investment?
The 10-year CAGR of 11.3% and a 192.7% price rise from $515,000 in 2013 to $1,507,500 in 2023 reflect strong long-term capital growth. However, the 27.8% vacancy rate and only 14.1% renter share mean rental yield is constrained, with weekly rent at $461. The investment case is capital growth driven rather than income focused.
How is Red Hill's population changing?
Red Hill's permanent population is 1,009, small for its 23.59 square kilometre area. The turnover rate is 14.0% annually while 86.0% of residents remained stable, indicating a settled community. The median age of 50 is 10 years above the national figure, and the high vacancy rate of 27.8% means total dwelling occupancy reflects significant holiday-home use rather than permanent growth.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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